Voices of Youth Inspire! "I had to overcome (my) shyness"

I grew up in Abidjan, the economical capital of Ivory Coast but I
currently live in Accra, Ghana since 2010.

According to your business card – what’s your job title?

Journalist

And how does that compare with what you wanted to do when you
were 10 years old?

When I was 10 years old, I wanted by all means, to be a TV
personality. The truth of the matter is that I was divided
between being an actress, a TV host or a singer? As I spent so
many moments of my childhood checking all aspects of these
professions, they seemed ambitious and unreachable. It was only
when I turned 15 years old that I chose journalism as my career
path. And since that day, I have done my best to become a
successful journalist.

Give us 10 words that describe your typical work day?

-Creative

-Ambitious

-Punctual

-Faith

-Chance

-Writing

-Social media

-Understanding

-Skills

-Smartphone

In a nutshell, how did you get to where you are right now?
Name some of the most important milestones.

The support that I received from my family and friends led me to
where I am now. My older brother also played a significant role.
He gave me my first opportunity to write as a citizen reporter
for NOW AFRICAN - an international organization based in Goma,
Congo, and Guyanese Graphics - a Guyana based newspaper among
many others.

Those articles that I wrote directly led to my work at BBC Africa
Accra as a trainee reporter. I learnt a host of skills such as
reporting, interviewing and editing. I learnt quite a lot on the
job as we covered stories on illegal mining activities in Ghana.
A particular story I worked on was the effect of chemical sprays
on farming activities in Ghana. I also had the chance to report
on various strikes. I reported a story over the salary dispute by
doctors in Ghana, and another one by taxi drivers.

I also had a stint at Hitz FM one of the most popular Ghanaian
Radio stations. I was the host to a Raggae Music show.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome to get to your
current position and how did it help you to grow as a
person?

The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was shyness. When I was a
child I was so shy that I could not even ask a question or answer
coherently. I was often paralyzed by anxiety and afraid to open
my mouth due to my lack of confidence. However, I have now
overcome all of these challenges by becoming more confident. As a
journalist, it’s my professional responsibility to talk to
people, to ask probing questions, and to get the information I
need to inform the public. If I was still shy, I would not have
been able to do my job.

How important was your choice of degree/field of study at
university for what you’re doing now?

In my case, I’m still a student, working towards earning a
Bachelor degree in Communication Studies and Journalism at the
African University College of Communication (AUCC) in Accra,
Ghana. I will graduate in 2014 and look forward to working for
major international media houses. My choice of study was
extremely important for me because it allowed me and still allows
me to learn and hone the skills required for my profession.

What are the top three things someone needs to excel in your
field?

According to my experiences, the three things someone needs to
excel in journalism are:

Be organized

Be persistent

Be on time

What do you think is the MOST important thing governments
and/or companies can do to help young people get started in their
careers?

-Governments must first and foremost encourage education by
making it attractive and prestigious for young people by
drastically reducing the cost.

-Education facilities must be expanded by governments to
accommodate the growing youth population.

-Work or job opportunities must provide young graduates with good
remunerations or salaries.

-Vacation packages for overseas travelling can inspire young
people whose primary aim, mostly, is to travel aboard in search
of better opportunities.

-Stable and peaceful governance lays down a great foundation for
quality, young human resources.

-Well trained and qualified tutors must be sourced for quality
young people and their talents.

-A sound mind is in a healthy body, thus, a young person's health
must be catered to.

On a lighter note, tell us about the strangest day you’ve ever
had at work or the strangest thing you had to do?

My incapability to speak some local languages is the one of the
biggest problems I have encountered. Indeed, as a reporter in
Accra, I often meet people who are not comfortable with the
English language. They just speak Twi, a local language,
which is the most spoken language in Accra. So, to get
information from Twi speakers is always challenging. I
came to recognize this disadvantage when on the field.
Fortunately my Ghanaian friends came to the rescue and have
taught me a few words in the local language. I can now hold short
conversations in Twi by using what I have learned and
through hand gestures.

Some words to youth out there: What advice can you give them
when chasing their dream position?

We all have big dreams that ignite our passion. When you are
chasing your dreams, you have to really believe in it. You have
to be sure to never let people tell you that your dreams are
unrealizable. Always stay positive, overcome your weaknesses and
enjoy every step of the way.